NPE refused Mrs Attreed’s appeal because it said no ambulances were seen in the car park.

A spokesman added: ‘We can confirm that no ambulances entered the car park on the day of this parking charge.

‘This was checked against the automatic number plate recognition images of all vehicles entering and exiting the car park before, during and after the period this lady was on site.’

But the company did admit Mrs Lynn had spent just 16 minutes in the car park and East of England Ambulance Trust also added an ambulance had been called to deal with an injured pensioner at around the same time.